Kia ora,

We are very pleased to advise our new Napier Port Container Terminal Transformation Project starts this month. This major investment will introduce battery-electric autonomous trucks and trailers for container movements within the terminal, helping improve safety, reduce emissions, and make operations more efficient over time.

As part of this project, we will be conducting ongoing Truck Trials every Monday pm shift from Monday 25 August.

This will require us to close our Western Gate at 1530hrs each Monday, until advised in December. Further details are available below.

Saturday Morning Open for R&D
We are also pleased to advise that we will be open for R&D on Saturday mornings from Saturday 23 August, until December 2025.

• Western Gate and Thames 1 Depot will open from 0700 – 1200hrs every Saturday
• Thames St 2 – Please book Propel VBS for T2 empty return drop off, but physically send your trucks to T1 Depot

Monday PM Gate Access, VBS and Late Truck Instructions

• The last West Gate zone in Propel on Monday’s will be 1400 with trucks arriving up until 1530hrs at our Western Gate entrance
• Late Trucks will still be available via our Eastern Gate, Marine Parade from 1540hrs for the 1600/1700/1800 zones
• All VBS bookings for ALL zones must be completed by 1500hrs
• If a vessel is cutting off on a Monday for Exports, containers must be Pre-advised and VBS booked by 1500hrs with entry until 1900hrs through the Eastern Gate, Marine Parade
• No Late Trucks available for KiwiRail or Hazardous containers (in or out) or Group pickups as usual
• The Thames Street Depots will operate as normal, closing at 1630hrs with no late trucks
• Late Trucks are to follow the normal route to Loading Zone 1 and not follow any other trucks in the terminal as they may be part of the ongoing Trial

Napier Port R&D Hours of Operation from Saturday 23 August 2025

If you have any questions, please contact Napier Port’s Western Gate Team – westgate@napierport.co.nz .

Ngā mihi,

Robert van Rooyen 
Head of Landside Operations